The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1887-04-16

fare. at the same time saying: BE on
the platform right after you hear the
whistle; we'll slow down so that you
can jump off. 1t is such a new place
that they have no post-oflice there yet,
and consequently we have no mailbag
to leave or take on. When any one
wishes to get aboard from there, the
station master flags the train.
"When l heard the warning whistle,
therefore, | made my way to the plat
form, and as the train came almost to
a standstill, jumped off. AS | did so,
the conductor called out. The depot is
about forty rods further down the track.
Keep right ahead, around the bend
y nder, and you'll come to the settle
ment in minute We slowed down a
little too quick; fact is, we haven't
stopped here often enough to know
where to put on the brakes in order to
hit the depot right. Would take you
down the e, but we have to meet the
down-eXpress at M, fifty miles
further up. She's due here in just three
hours, SO you see we've got to hurry
up
"His last words ended in q shout, as
the train disappeared in the darkness
around the bend.
II had two heavy sample-bags, both
of which l had dropped off the train
before springing down myself, and as
the cars disappeared in the distance, |
stopped to pick them up. But as | did
so, some one from behind sprang
heavily upon me. and, taken at Il dis
advantage, | went down in a heap, with
the stranger on top of me.
Bring the cords, Jed, | heard my
unknown assailant say, and in very
few minutes | was securely bound,
hand and foot, with strong lashings of
rope. l was then permitted to sit up,
and tried to discover in the darkness
the appearance of my enemies. But it
was too dark to see their faces clearly.
/ was enabled to make out the forms of
two powerful men, in rough dress and
broad-rimmed, SLOUGH hats.
"Then one of them accostcd me.
"'You is the chap that was down to
Jones store yesterday, l take it?'
Yes l was at Jones's store yes
terday; and now, what do you want of
me, and why are you treating me in
this wayp'
"'We were down there, too an
swered the other, who had not spoken
until now, and we heard you give n
good deal of advice about how to catch
the hoss-thieyes the people were so ex-
cited about. You advised them to or
ganize IA vigilance committee, and hang
every hoss-thief caught. And they are
taking your advice.
"We heard old Jones advise you to
stop ut this place, and it suited our
plans to dot. We were just on our
way to the depot when the train slowed
up here, and dropped you right into
our hands without any trouble.
"'Now, he continued, we are going
to make a kind of example of you.
They'd never have thought of forming
n vigilance committee if it hadn't been
for you, and we propose to fix you so
you'll not have chance to give any
more advice
Saying which they converscd to-
gether in II low tone for Il moment, and
then one of them went TO the brush AT
the roadside, where | could hear him
chopping and splitting with Ratchet.
Presently he returned, bearing several
sticks in his hand.
"Now, my lad said Jed, we're
going to stake you down here, stretch
ed across the track, and see if you'll
get up any more vigilance commit
tees.
Their object was now only too ap.
parent, and was nothing more nor less
than to fasten me down on the railroad
track, so that the first train that came
along would run over and crush me to
death!
II took in the whole horror of tho
stu ton ut once, and wildly protested
"'Surely, if YOU ar3 horse-thcvcs
you must have sohe heart, and BEG o
you not to torture an honest man il
this waym
But might rs well have talked t,
the stones along the grade. One Of IN,
thieves had been busy whiting ava,
on % piece of wood, while the allow
conversation was taking place. IL
now advanced and spoke:
jed, jest hold on to him. and II
stop his talking so much, and as | wa
graSped in the powr full arms Of tn
aforesaid jed, the second rui1ian force,
my mouth open, and roughly htted tn
, piece of wood upon which he had bee
whiting between my jaws, making
utterly impossible for me to speak, an
painful for me even to breathe. The
was quickly thrown 10 the earthJan
drnTrpd directly across the IA Iroll